Business networking rules - Part2

Dos
People expect from you being:
- interesting
As I said, we are bombarded with too much information. means also, that people are desperately looking for a valuable source of information. Be specific, accurate, consistent and concise

- good looking
Appearance is a crucial. Human is a visual creature. If you offer a nice image of you on the web to your audience, you have satisfied to a great expectation

- genuine
By entering the world of social media you expose yourself by bringing your authentic self to the table. The purpose of "social" media is above all to instil a personal bite. Don't be shy show some personality and give a piece of your

- reliable
You have to deliver what you promised at the time you promised

- listening
Respect the time people give you for advise, information, knowledge etc by always jotting notes, not necessarily on a book: you have plenty of media to do so! 
As well, information is at hand and researching someone online before interacting will get you respect

- positive
People are fond of fresh and smiley attitude. Even if complains can sometimes be justified, you should not sit on, but move on

- proactive
As I said, your dream job is at hand waiting for you. But you have got to make it happen. Broaden your networks via forums, blogs, events etc and think of how you can articulate those people together

- "connecting people" - Nokia.
Wherever you can offer your help, make introduction, link like-minded people, share articles that someone may like, go for it.

Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Author - Kevin Simonnet

Business networking rules - Part1

The protocol
Online networking is pretty recent to those last years. Even professionals in communication/marketing still make (huge) mistakes. We are experimenting a new way of communication and rules are still formalising as we go.
But there are some fundamentals:

Don't
- ignore the rules of the group. For example, recruiters post job ads in the common news feed. This is perceived as flooding, irreverent and commercially aggressive

- pester. Just as you wouldn't do in real life with phone calls, consider the fact that we are nowadays bombarded with too much information. And we just lack time and sometimes the energy to respond.
Leave at least 1 week before following up and offer a solution to your contact's busy schedule: put yourself in their position and suggest several slots

- shout. Using CAPS LOCK is like shouting. No one likes to be shouted at

- beg. Networking isn't about you; but them. Like the old saying that goes: "You catch more flies with honey than vinegar", don't come across as desperate. Instead demonstrate your passion and offer your help

- accept someone in your networks without a notice. Ask the new comer in what way you could be of an help. That will also be a reminder about how you met

- add someone without an introduction. You know how intrusive it can be to receive a connection request  from someone you never heard of!

Please consider sending at least a message before. Anyhow, if you follow the methodology I give you, you should not even think about it! :D

Author - Kevin Simonnet
Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

How has social media changed the recruitment process - Part2

Drive your career

Social media has enhanced networking. You are given the access to people you could never imagine get in touch with a decade before! This multiplies the possibilities and empowers you with a great asset.

Now you can build your own tactics and strategy to break into a targeted circle of decision makers. Trough referrers you can be introduced to key people that will then promote your profile and help you reach the decision maker for this particular job you covet.

Individuals are now able to do their own job hunting and drive their careers in the direction they choose.

Brand name marketing

Building your image on the web is a hard and long path to follow. However, it is to last for long. That gives you the opportunity to cover a longer period of time and move to a more ‘passive’ search.

One of the main issues in recruitment is struggling on time: from the initial business need and the time the job has to be filled, there are just a couple of months! HR has then to be really organized and have to choose between the candidates that are, at this time, available. That leads, most of the time, to a default choice.

By adopting a passive search strategy you merely avoid the time criteria. And you give the opportunity to a broader range of recruiters or hiring managers to identify you!

Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Author - Kevin Simonnet

How has social media changed the recruitment process - Part1

From 2D to 3D!

Social media allows both, candidate and companies, to promote themselves. Being able to take a proactive approach, revolutionizes the whole process.

In addition, that stretches the period devoluted to the hiring process and broadens the channels of sourcing. 

Broadcasting

Before, the only format we could use was the hard-copy Cv. It’s  formal and focused on the professional knowledge. 
Moreover, we were to synthesize it to one page! How can you decently sum up several years of your career into a single page?!

Now we have access to much various channels, each one to communicate specifically on a certain aspect of our profile.

For example, Linkedin is the extension of our existing hard-copy Cv: it allows you to talk about what is “between the lines” in your ‘work history section’. As well, you can expose more about your personality, your beliefs and objectives in the ‘summary section’

In brief, social media gives the opportunity to show different facets of you.

Enlightenment

It has made talent come to lightening. Experts are excellent at what they do, but not everyone work in media! 
By enabling self-promotion at an individual scale, talents became far more visible and accessible not only at a national range, but globally.
As a result, our networks expand to a richer talent pool, in which we can identify the best person with a larger choice.

Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Author - Kevin Simonnet

Networking strategy - Part13

HOW TO ASK FOR A RECOMMENDATION #3

6- According to your personal brand
You can kindly make suggestions that you think are attuned to your personal brand image. Make sure to vary the treat to focus on. People will appreciate it as instilling creativity.

7- Results and achievement
You mention them in your Cv. Why not having them asserted by a thrustful professional?
Ask what direct impact your service produced in terms of figure and subsequences of your positive input. You could get surprised!

8- Offer the choice
Clearly say that you have considered asking your referrer to put his reputation on the line for you and that you would understand if he would not feel like vouching for you.

9- Accompany it with a call
We are submerged by emails in nowadays crazy work pace. Receiving a call can help have a break, share a fun chat that will put a smile on your referrer's face and give him a slot to kindly do it. (Moreover, think about the impression on his colleagues around an open-plan office, as being so important that he is asked to assess the career of others ;-) !

10- Thank your referrer
After achieving all those steps and reaching the magic endorsement, please don't forget to show your gratitude.

Here is an example:
"Hi X,

I'm building my reputation on the web and to earn credibility I would really appreciate that you spend 5 minutes of your time thinking about what you liked about collaborating with me: 3 particular things that come to your mind!

To help you with it, I've given you some suggestions. However, the best reference will come from your personal point of view (maybe something surprising to me!)

- Proficiency at blogging,

- Creativity: entrepreneurship at developing a new valuable solution

- Consulting: valuable advice I gave you to enhance your networks, web presence, way of managing (self drive motivation, team leading etc).

I understand that I'm asking you to engage your online reputation. Therefore, it's important that you truly feel like vouching for me. Feel free to ask me for more information.

Thanks in advance for helping me out!"

Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Author - Kevin Simonnet

Networking strategy - Part12

HOW TO ASK FOR A RECOMMENDATION #2


9 tips to have a stunning recommendation 

1- Give it a kick start
Even if you think that the most genuine endorsement would come naturally form your referrer, (and consequently, that you should not intervene to orientate it) you would be better not to leave your referrer facing the "blank sheet".

2- Give a piece of you
What more involving than striking the emotional chord of your referrer. You're asking for a favor and a personal feed back. Therefore, you should first give an insight of what motivates your request: explain your current objectives and why this recommendation is an important part of the jigsaw.

3- Encourage your referrer
Tell him how important he is to you and value his effort as making a big impact on your career.

4- Offer guidelines
Most professionals are to busy with their job, concerns with their private life ... and would just lack of time and imagination; not necessarily the willing!

Border it by :
- specifying her/him the time he will spend doing it
- asking for 3 different remarkable points. 

Those can be:
- deed
- achievement/result
- relate a story
- quality
- trait of your personality
- strategic vision of the market
- promising personality
etc
There is no restriction! This can be something achieved in the past or a potential to realise; a professional proficiency or a personal demeanour.

5- Assert with examples
Nothing more concrete and assertive than associate with a real-life example every point. 

Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Author - Kevin Simonnet

Networking strategy - Part11

HOW TO ASK FOR A RECOMMENDATION #1

Assert your reputation

We understand how important our reputation on the web can be. One of the most efficient ways to build credibility is to have the recognition of our peers.

We want all the endeavours we put into delivering great outcomes to be assessed by people who, themselves, are well known to be reliable professionals.

However, there is a way to ask. Even if, in most instances, we have closely collaborated with the desired referrer it can come to be tricky.

Don't wait for the rain to fall: do it!
You know you want it. A recommendation can make a big difference when brought to the attention of prospects, investors etc. 
Actually, it will make a bigger impact than any self-promotion because it comes from a third party and it is a testimonial of a personal experience:  much more trustworthy because of its authenticity.

You are worth it To preserve this genuine authenticity, you might think then that it should come naturally as a compliment. 
But you know you deserve it!  Just go for it and ask. You might have great surprises of people truly keen and revealing qualities you wouldn't think of!

In my next post, I'll give the tips&tricks to have a stunning recommendation!

Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Author - Kevin Simonnet